If Mayor Vincent Gray’s latest proposed “Mobile Roadway Vending” regulations are enacted, trucks would become illegal in most of downtown D.C., representatives of the DC Food Truck Association said Thursday.

“The proposed regulations have one outcome – less choice and competition for District resident’s dollars and fewer food trucks just where residents want them the most,” said Doug Povich, the association’s Board of Directors chairman. “The proposed parking restrictions have little to do with protecting public health and safety, and everything to do with restricting competition and consumer choice.”

The DC Food Truck Association’s predictions of where food trucks would and would not be able to park under the city’s latest proposed restrictions. (Credit: DC Food Truck Association)

The proposed system includes a limited number of lottery-assigned designated parking spots, a ban on other trucks within 500 feet of the assigned spots and banning trucks from serving in spots without 10 feet of unobstructed sidewalk.

According to a Washington Post report, food truck owners would pay $25 per month to enter the lottery. If they won, they would pay $150 per vehicle per month to park in the zones. While vending would be legal outside the zones in some spots, the FTA says the proposed restrictions would be very limiting.

“Food trucks who do not win a lottery spot will have few places to go,” Povich said. “The bottom line is that, if enacted, the proposed regulations will severely limit consumer choice, force many food trucks out of business, and put many food-truck employees out of work.”

Public comment on the proposed vending regulations will be accepted until 5 p.m. on Monday, April 8. Comments must be submitted in writing to Mr. Helder Gil, Legislative Affairs Specialist, Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs, 1100 Fourth Street, SW, Room 5164, Washington, D.C. 20024, or via e-mail at DCVendingRegs@dc.gov.